Nearly three decades since its release, Shah Rukh Khan’s legendary character Raj Malhotra from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) is still setting the standard for romance through generations. The 1995 blockbuster not only established SRK as the King of Romance but also emerged as one of the most endearing films in Indian cinema history. But not everybody considers Raj to be the ideal hero — his co-stars Parmeet Sethi and Manoj Bajpayee recently provided a witty and surprising spin on the action, labeling Shah Rukh’s characters as the “villain” of their respective movies.
In an open chat with Pinkvilla, actor Parmeet Sethi, who portrayed Kuljit Singh, Simran’s (Kajol’s) fiancé in DDLJ, provided his unvarnished opinion. “In DDLJ, Kuljit didn’t do anything wrong,” he stated. “Shah Rukh’s Raj shows up and steals my bride. I didn’t go to steal anyone’s bride.” His take gives a humorously layered spin to the film, presenting Raj’s dramatic romantic move from the vantage point of a suitor to be thwarted — one in which Kuljit is merely an aggrieved man who has lost out on love.”.
Likewise, Manoj Bajpayee, who co-starred with Shah Rukh Khan in Veer Zaara (2004), expressed a similar opinion regarding his character Raza. Referring to an interview from the past, he clarified, “The proposal is already made, but my fiancée is flirting with someone else. So, Shah Rukh for me was the villain in this tale, but all the ire was for me instead.”
Bajpayee continued to discuss his method of acting, stating, “When I get a role, I think from the character’s point of view. Then I will be able to make it real. That’s how my thinking was in approaching the role. Shah Rukh, for me, was the villain.” His observation reminds us that perspective is what makes storytelling work — what readers see as romance may, from a different perspective, resemble betrayal or heartbreak.
Despite these tongue-in-cheek observations, there’s no denying the enduring magic of DDLJ. The film continues to play daily at Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir theatre and remains a cultural touchstone for lovers of Hindi cinema. Shah Rukh Khan’s Raj and Kajol’s Simran still embody the fantasy of love that defies all odds.
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Although Parmeet Sethi and Manoj Bajpayee’s witty remarks provide a fresh perspective on SRK’s greatest romantic roles, fans remain fond of him as the eternally romantic hero who redefined what it takes to win hearts — even at the cost of breaking a few in the bargain.
